What’s that one thing that really scares you? Like…makes you sweat a little just thinking about it?

Is it speaking in front of a crowd, relocating to Spain to become a waiter on a sea-front restaurant, taking a cross-country road trip by yourself, writing a novel, or maybe it’s quitting your 9-to-5 job to open up a full-service mobile doggy salon? Or just maybe it’s as simple as reaching out more to your friends, sending your Dad or Mom an “I’m thinking about you email,” or even talking to a stranger at the grocery store.

Our fears become such a big part of who we are, that some of us (myself included) think that the fear itself is enough to satisfy our deepest dreams. What frightens us most is not our darkness, but our light (Thanks Marianne Williamson!). We become used to looking at and observing our light, that we think that’s enough for us to get by on; putting us perpetually one step behind achieving our dreams at all times.

The darkness we invite to live with us on a daily basis is our fears. It’s common for people to live more in their own darkness than in their light. We feel unworthy, incapable, and scared of our light. The light inside of us is made up of our endless gifts, talent, love, and unique enthusiasm. They are the sparkly, bright, shining puzzle pieces that make up our soul. They are the pieces that the Universe wants and needs us to use on a daily basis, but that we stuff back in the closet because we “don’t want to break them” or “let others steal them from us.”

The more we feed our fears with negative self-talk, hatred, and anxiety, the more power they produce. The fears expand, gain weight, and eventually, we are dragged down to the point where we have a hard time moving in any direction because they are so heavy. It paralyzes us, and the darkness celebrates a win. The light inside still remains, but the calls for your attention become muffled and harder to understand.

But our fears have a secret. There is a good and beneficial part to our most feared situations.

Fear holds a key to what we really need. What we need to work on, what we’re good at, how we can be of more service to others (and self), they show us where our best assets and skills lie. In this contradictory way, fears show us how we will be best supported in this life.

This may sound incredibly weird and perplexing, but don’t be afraid of your fears. Ask them what they hold for your benefit and happiness…for your life purpose and loving power. See them as an opportunity to grow, to learn something new, and to evolve into a better person.

Fear may be a natural reaction to what we perceive as something to be afraid of, what we don’t want, and what to avoid…but in my experience I have found these ideas to be the opposite. My fear has turned into something I am incredibly grateful for.

For the longest time, I was extremely afraid of expressing my truth, and even just being open and honest with myself!

I would internally lash out at bloggers, writers, and authors for being so forthcoming with their issues, life experiences, and fears. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to talk about their problems in their life. I subscribed to the idea that ignoring hardships would make them just *poof!* disappear. We all know that smothering feelings with ice cream and pretending everything is all beaches and butterflies doesn’t work very well.

My biggest fear is my voice. I have a fear of feeling worthy of expression, being heard, understood, and expressing myself clearly. Every single day, in a little way, I work on overcoming this fear. Interestingly, I did not choose to love this fear until I was “forced” to. When I lost my job, I knew I couldn’t live a surface existence any longer. I was in a place where I was trying desperately to fit in to the “norm” and not talk about my interests in metaphysical, Universal, angelic, spiritual, and wellness topics. But I had no where to hide from my fears anymore. Nothing was keeping me from it…no job or distractions anymore. I was gifted a blank slate and asked to start loving my fears. The fear of expression and self-empowerment has turned into my passion and life purpose.

Sometimes, I still get the feelings like I have to “work at overcoming it.” And you know what, this is OK! Many people will tell you that your life purpose, path, and radical truth should always be easy. Deep down it is. But we’re human, we hit road bumps, we encounter stop-signs, our energy runs low at times and high at others. This is life. The natural flow of “as above, so below” and yin and yang. Don’t let these experiences make you think that you’re not on the right track. You are. And don’t give up, even though the darkness pleads with you to let it stay, you have come to transform fear in to love.

What do you fear today? What dreams are making you sweat? I encourage you (as I do the same for myself), to open your arms and welcome this fear. Embrace the possibility that your fears may be a key to your life path. But ignore the feelings to feed the fear with more anxiety and confusion. Simply recognize the fear, ask for it’s advice, and take one small step today in facing it, loving it, and using it for your divine benefit.

Once you face your fear, you are allowing your light to shine brighter. And when your light is shining, the darkness disappears.

Love your fears.

They hold a key to your light.

Way back in the first week of January (it seems so long ago!), I created a list called transforming “I wish” into “I will”where I talked about taking all my hopes for 2013 and turning them in to things I could actually achieve! Or, as I like to call it, doing my dreams! Makes sense right?

The two little words, “I will,” have so much energy attached to them! Wishing is great, dreaming is fun, but manifesting both create fireworks of happiness and success. That’s what I will to happen in 2013.

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So, since we’re six months into 2013 — I want to take a look at my progress! Maybe you want to do the same!

I will use the strength I grew into from 2012 wisely + often — uh yeah, still growing peeps! More meditating, mindfulness, and DOING instead of just dreaming!

I will finish at least one book + get published {there are SO many!} —Really proud of the progress on this one! I’m almost 75% done with my first book with a submission date of October 28! Yahoo!

I will spend more time with family near + far — Trying my best! Glad I got to see my extended clan for Easter and a cousin is graduating in June so more Wisconsin trips! Love me some WI!

I will land more than a dozen awesome voiceover jobs — Tally for 2013: 1. Staying positive and affirming more voiceovers are headed my way…now! 🙂

I will travel + revel in all the beauty of this world + savor the creativity that travel brings me — Ahh! I have been able to travel to Tennessee, Mexico, Wisconsin, Colorado, and South Dakota so far this year! I am a professional travel manifester! Can’t wait to see where the next six months take me! Thank you, thank you!

I will paint, draw + doodle more — Doodling…check. Drawing…hmm…does doodling count? Painting…well I bought some supplies back in February, this is a reminder to get them out and use them!

I will meditate (even for just a minute) every day — I would say yes. But, I have been known to be a little unconventional, so sometimes my meditating is just simply admiring the beauty in a flower, a tree, or the shimmering fur (yeah, really!) of my best puggle buddy, Frankie.

I will do something to move my body every day — Check! If I can’t get for a run or brisk walk, I still get in a few lunges here and there, a downward dog or two, pushups until my arms are jello, I’m doin’ it!

I will do more random acts of kindness/beauty/happiness — Trying to think of great examples for this one. I think I need to get rid of the box and just start doing little things for people who need it. Anyone have some great thoughts on this?

I will spend less time *mindlessly* surfing the Internet — Oh the Internet is my vice! I love to connect with people, but sometimes a quick connection can turn into an hour of surfing! Scheduling breaks is a good thing. More movement, less staring!

I will cook more creative and healthfully — Half yes? I need to get out of my omelet and toast rut! I should inspire myself by coming up with more Recharge Recipe posts!

I will give more + want less. . .helping others opens my heart — I’ve adopted the new mantra of “I am of service” and use it as a reminder each day to give openly in all ways. Service to others, self, and source!

I will stay grounded in gratitude for the present even as I look forward to the future —Letting go of the past is something everyone works on, and I am in the process of letting certain old childhood hurts go. I remind myself to give thanks for them, bless the experience, forgive the people involved, and stay in the present. It takes practice!

I will work with awesome clients who need help with writing, blogging, editing, consulting — Making progress, I am still looking for more clients to work with and write for! Know anyone? But I am excited that I am nearly certified to become a Certified Angel Card Reader early next month! Get ready to play telephone with Heaven!

I will put the phone down when I am spending quality time with people — Getting better at this! Stop being so fun, Facebook 😉

I will listen more to my inner voice, knowing and intuition — your inner voice, along with mine, will always be there to gently nudge us in the right direction. . .keep the signs clear, my heart open, and my consciousness elevated!

I will listen more to the needs + concerns of others — I can always work on this. Life isn’t just about me. I want to be there, genuinely, for those who need it. Who needs a hug!?

I will open an Etsy shop — in progress, friends! Turquoise Heart and Spiritual Warrior t-shirts comin’ your way! Oooh they are going to be so cute!

I plopped down on an unoccupied Denver bench after the conclusion of the Writing From Your Soul conference, and I felt raw and open. Exposed…in a good way, but something my soul is still getting comfortable with.

With all openings and transformations, there is a part where you are invited to let go of the old. What no longer serves your highest self in spirit.

Today I had a little more push to continue to let go of the grasp from my ego. That voice inside my head that wants to bother me and interject with: “excuse me, who do you think you are?” “Oh, you’re going to land a book deal with Hay House?” “Yeah…sure (cue eye roll)…”

I am grateful to know what my ego is…(If you’re feeling kind of squishy about this, no worries! I will explain the concept of ego more in-depth in an upcoming blog post when I return)…ultimately it is the voice in your head that puts you and your ideas, dreams, and visions down. It tricks you into thinking that you’re less-than. Unworthy. Small. Meant to be a part of the herd. And combine that with societal and generational influence, it’s can feel like one tough nut to crack.

After many hard years of being devoted to my ego, and listening to it, I have awakened to the sense that it is not me. And after some practice…I can now distinguish between my ego and my soul guidance. But, I am a work in progress, and the ego likes to bug me from time-to-time, and I have to be very patient and gently send those thoughts away.

So today, I was able to practice this a lot. I send tremendous gratitude to these “challenges,” because without something tapping you on the shoulder, you would never turn around and see the new direction to go in, right?

Back to the bench…I gazed up to the top of the massive buildings of downtown Denver that touch the blue sky. I was struck by the sheer force of man (human-ness, mind-based thought) meeting the glory of nature (divinity/the Universe/God/whatever higher force you subscribe to). The meeting of these two made a complimentary union through my eyes, but not necessarily through my heart.

I started thinking about how does humanity, as a collective, merge with the Universe to work in harmony for the highest good? Are we doing a good enough job? Well…I want to help! Then, ego stepped in, and I thought about how on Earth will I get noticed (to help) in all of this grandeur and rules that we as humans have created. Then this question arose inside of me:

“Who will notice me?” And I received this answer: “Do you notice yourself?”

Thank you, Universe.

Looking further into that awesome answer, I recalled a huge overlying mantra that Dr. Dyer spoke about this weekend…

“How can I serve?”

That is the question we all should ask before we begin our day, write, speak, sing, you name it. How can we serve others? And in turn, we will serve ourself.

It ties in with “Do you notice yourself?” Do you take the time to care about yourself so you can care about others?

To serve our highest self, means that we are serving the highest good for all. In turn, we notice ourself and the power that we all posses to change the world…starting from the inside out.

Yeah, there’s no coincidence that I’m experiencing this all in the mile high city. 5280 feet up. Elevated.

We serve others by self elevating. There is where you will notice the real you, and others will too. And that is where the ego no longer has much air.

If you’re living in Minnesota, you may have noticed that the weather is having “a moment.”

One of those seemingly unending times where you find yourself saying:

“Mother Nature! NO! *clap* *clap* STOP THAT RIGHT NOW.”

We thought winter was over. The snow had melted, the birds were chirping, the buds were budding…but now all that growing and transforming…well…stopped.

We’re stuck in springter (spring/winter).

As I was jogging on my treadmill (dreaming of hitting the pavement on a sunny day around a lake) something clicked.

What if this “return to winter” is happening because we need a little more time to grow? Like the Universe is sending us a message that we have an opportunity to make our blooming even better and bigger…and our dreams an even more vibrant shade of whatever color you’re painting with.

Trust me, I would (and will) welcome spring with the biggest bear hug ever, but let’s think of this time like a “do over.”

Since we’re forced to be in this transitioning stage, and experience a slight slow-down, what can we do to make the most of this restart?

Ask yourself (I’m doing the same!):

Are the seeds I’m planting the ones I’m looking forward to blooming? If not? Plant new ones!

What do I need to work on from the inside out? Is there anything I need to release/let go of/forgive in order to move forward?

Have I revised the action steps to birth my dream? Anything to change?

Surrender to the stillness, be OK with just being for now. Know that your dreams are being revamped for the better!

And seriously…if nothing else…let’s all take a few quiet minutes and envision spring here…NOW! 🙂